Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of the word: "Smile" and other floral and geometric motifs. The back contains a handwritten note in fuchsia pencil, reading: "I've lost loved ones I care about and know how hard it is. Please know I am thinking about you and I'm sorry for your loss." The stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School" appears on the bottom right.
Square card with white and yellow text against blue background. Card reads, "Mitzvah4Pittsburgh. Some spread darkness. We spread light. Choose a good deed. Choose a Mitzvah. Add light to the world," followed by four options and a place for respondents to list their name and email address. Some names and email addresses have been redacted for privacy.
Photocopied legal document. Typed with embossed seal and some handwritten annotations, 12 pages.
Post-it note with handwritten message and illustration. The message reads, in Hebrew: "Am Yisrael Chai (The People of Israel Live)." A large heart and smaller Star of David appear in the upper and lower center.
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of a bird's feather with floral and geometric motifs. The back contains a handwritten note, as well as the stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School."
Card addressed to Irving Younger. Cover features a reproduction of a painting by Frank Crosby, a resident of the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh. The inside contains messages of love and support written by other members of the Emmaus Community.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "Dear Members of the Tree of Life Synagogue, Although I am a Presbyterian, I have Jewish ancestors. I was so saddened by the tragedy your congregation has [?]. May you have the blessings of the Lord, and may the ones you have lost rest in peace. William H. [last name redacted] San Diego, CA."
Post-it note with handwritten message in black marker. The message reads: "When we work together, hate can't win. -Max S."
Printed tag with Tree of Life synagogue emblem in the upper right. The tag reads: "America Stands with You." Creasing and staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Post-it note with handwritten message in pink marker. The message reads: "Our hearts cry with yours for shalom." Signed with a heart, cross, and Star of David.
Post-it note with handwritten message in red marker. The message reads: "Stronger than hate. Never forget the day."
Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover contains the following quote attributed to O.G. Mandino: "Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." Illustrated with the image of two stick figures, labeled "strength" and "failure" respectively standing on either side of a wall. The inside reads: "Dear Congregation of the Tree of Life, I am sorry for what happened and I hope everything gets better.
Square card with white and yellow text against blue background. Card reads, "Mitzvah4Pittsburgh. Some spread darkness. We spread light. Choose a good deed. Choose a Mitzvah. Add light to the world," followed by four options and a place for respondents to list their name and email address. Some names and email addresses have been redacted for privacy.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "To our esteemed sisters and brothers I offer sorrow in your losses, comfort to enter into your memories and many blessings for your bright future as a synagogue to overcome. With all my love- Russell [last name redacted]."
Handwritten note written in black ink expressing the author's wish that the site of the October 27 attack and its memory become a source of love and strength. Tearing and staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Summary: KDKA-TV report providing a history of mass shootings in the Pittsburgh area between 2000 and 2018.
Post-it note with handwritten message in red marker. The message reads: "We will love you forever." Creasing due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of the words: "Don't Stop Believing." The back contains a handwritten note, as well as the stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School."
Card from the Friendship Circle of Illinois. The cover reads: "To the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, From: Ari [last name redacted]." The acronym "B"SD" (with the help of heaven) appears in the upper right corner. The left flap on the inside features a large smiley face. The right flap reads: "I feel very bad for you and there should be always good stuff. And there be no bad stuff and Moshiach should come right NOW!!" A smiley face has been inserted inside the letter O.
Terms of Use
The October 27 Archive collects responses to an antisemitic attack in Pittsburgh, Pa. on October 27, 2018. These responses take many forms but share a motivating impulse. Each began in the mind and heart of someone who was moved by the events of that day and was compelled to create something meaningful from that feeling. By sharing these responses, those people chose to be vulnerable for the sake of a greater good. The October 27 Archive website was launched with the belief that sharing these responses with the world can provide an avenue for people all over the world to reflect, learn, and heal.
By entering this website, you agree to honor the spirit in which these responses were created and in which they are being shared with the world.
The materials on this website are being made available exclusively for research purposes. For permission to use any of the materials on this website for any other purpose, please contact the archive. If you are the creator of any of the material on this website, and you would like to provide context or request to have something removed, please contact the archive. If you intend to reference any material found on this website, please attribute all citations to the Rauh Jewish Archives, so that other researchers can easily locate these materials in the future.